Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has unveiled plans to make the UK the most dementia friendly society in the world by 2020.

And the scheme has been welcomed with groups which work for the estimated 850,000 sufferers of the disease and will be contributing to it.

The Government’s plan published on Sunday sets out a series of commitments to boost diagnosis rates, raise awareness and encourage research.

It will see pilot schemes that will see the NHS Health Check for the disease available to those aged 40 or older, down from the current 65.

These will be in partnership with voluntary organisations like the Alzheimer’s Society and Alzheimer’s Research UK and evaluated for a national roll out.

Meanwhile, Ofsted-style ratings for diagnosis and quality of care will be published by clinical commissioning group area this year.

There will also be personalised care plans for every patient from their GP, a new aim for 10% of all people diagnosed with dementia to take part in research, while the Care Quality Commission will include standards of dementia care in their inspections.

Mr Hunt said: “A dementia diagnosis can bring fear and heartache, but I want Britain to be the best place in the world to live well with dementia.

“Last Parliament we made massive strides on diagnosis rates and research – the global race is now on to find a cure for dementia and I want the UK to win it.

“This Parliament I want us to make big progress on the quality of care and treatment. Hospitals can be frightening and confusing places for people with dementia, so our new plan will guarantee them safer seven day hospital care, as well as tackling unacceptable variations in quality across England through transparent Ofsted style ratings.”

Jeremy Hughes, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society, said: “We applaud the Government’s firm commitment to make the UK the most dementia friendly place in the world.

“Until recently, people with dementia were effectively cast out from society, but the tide is now turning. There are now nearly 1.5 million dementia friends helping to drive this change, and communities up and down the country are working to make streets, towns and cities more inclusive.

“But still many people with dementia face stigma and a health and care system that simply does not work for them - resulting in emergency hospital admissions, extended stays and desperate loneliness.

“We look forward to leading the continued transformation of society and investment in research so that, by 2020, people with dementia get the support they need every day of the year – whether that be at home, in residential care, hospital or in the wider community.”

Alzheimer’s Society research shows that 92% of people think hospitals are frightening for the person with dementia.

The roll-out of seven day services will particularly benefit dementia patients as it will help make sure they don’t stay in hospital longer than necessary.

Currently, consultant-delivered hospital ward rounds vary across the week and around the country but under new plans:

All patients in high dependency care will be seen and reviewed by a consultant twice a day, every day of the week by 2020.

If clinically appropriate, all patients, including those with dementia, will be reviewed by a consultant-delivered ward round once a day, every day of the week by 2020 – so there will be better, safer care for patients with dementia in hospital.

For the very first time leaders across the health, social care, local government and voluntary sector organisations have signed a joint declaration – committing to improving care and support to people with dementia following diagnosis.

Hilary Evans, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Research UK, added: “Since the first Prime Minister’s Dementia Challenge in March 2012 was launched, we’ve seen real progress in the fight against this devastating condition, and the beginnings of a social movement to rally people behind that fight.

“There is still much work to do, and Alzheimer’s Research UK welcomes this plan which signals a strong commitment to build on the achievements of recent years. “We look forward to working with the Government to deliver action on research and help accelerate the development of much-needed new treatments, preventions and improvements in diagnosis.”